Chapter 177
Chapter 177
55 vbuet
87
It feels like I haven’t been here in a lifetime, but it was just a week ago that I was sneaking under the podium to stay close to Ragnar. Instead of the usual handful of councilmen, the entire hall is filled with representatives of some of the major families in each house.
Since the Alpha King and the Rogue are in question, it’s up to their most trusted to ask the important questions. The Alpha King’s was simple. Three codes were spoken to confirm that he is who he says he is.
The man pretending to be Xavier is in the prisoner’s podium in a wheelchair. His arms are bound around his body. He has a face mask on, and his legs are strapped to the chair itself. There are two guards on him with ARs aimed at the back of his head. It might seem excessive, but unlike the one usurping the Alpha King, this one is fast and can shift on command.
There are a lot of familiar faces and a whole lot more new ones. But they are all looking over at us. The newly mated King and Queen of the House of Lycans. It’s been a long start to this journey, and it’s hard to believe it’s only been two months. I feel like I’ve aged at least ten years since we marked one another.
-Does he look familiar to you?- Ragnar asks. I glance over at him very briefly and take his hand before looking back at the shifter.
-Should he?-
-The first time I ever picked you up from the clinic, there was a little boy and his mother. I think he was given a shot. You gave him a sucker. I think that’s the man who picked them up.-
I sit back and think back to that day. The kid who screamed his head off. It had been a long time since I encountered a kid resisting the way he was. He scratched me, and the woman took a tissue to clean his hand while profusely apologizing to me. I didn’t see who picked them up. I assumed she had driven there herself.
-Are you sure?-
-Yeah, the way he grabbed the kid caught my attention. I warned him, and while he was opening the car door, he accidentally hit the woman because I had told him not to treat a pup that way. He was afraid. I didn’t think anything of it because most people react that way to me.-
-They already had my DNA then.- I inform him. He shifts uncomfortably in his seat and lets out a low, sarcastic laugh. I wonder why they never used it, or if they’ve been buying their time to corner me.
-What do you mean they already had your DNA?-
-The kid scratched me. Before I could clean it up, his mother put a tissue over the wound and wiped his hand. She was very apologetic about it. It’s not the first time it’s happened, so I didn’t think anything of it myself.-
-Why didn’t they use it?- he asks.
-That’s a good question.- I agree.
“Good evening,” King Baldr says and stands, making his way to the center.
Since he’s stepped down and is not directly involved in this investigation, he will be the acting judge.
Chapter 177
Something tells me that he’s right where he wants to be. I press my lips together, taking in its appearance. His hair is slicked back when it’s usually a messy mop of curls on the top of his head. His face is freshly shaved, and he’s wearing black robes, his judge’s sash, and golden ropes granted to former kings like himself. It’s very difficult to tell who looks more like him, but his sons are his spitting image at the
moment.
“What an insane case,” he laughs, and the council joins him.
I finally let out the laugh I’ve been holding in because I know he is going to sensationalize everything in a very King Baldr manner. I look over my grandmother to see that she knows exactly what is about to happen. She’s prepared with her ai glasses in place already. When she glances in my direction, she grins widely.
-I swear it’s hard to tell who the adults are here.- Ragnar shakes his head disapprovingly.
-Come on. We’re finally going to be able to pay attention. I was already fighting the urge to scroll through houses on my phone.-
-Don’t mind if I do.- he smirks and pulls his phone out.
-I’m honestly just happy they’re getting along again.- I admit.
“Let’s all settle in,” he commands, but it’s not in his usual domineering way. “I know you all know who I am, but allow me to introduce myself. My name is Baldr Axel. The former King of House Lycan. As of now, you may all refer to me as Elder Baldr.”
My grandmother laughs at the playful way he says that. The other Elders present are staring at him with disbelief. He’s smiling as if this were the best day of his life, and it’s overly inappropriate considering the circumstances. I can’t look away or stop enjoying how much fun he’s having.
“For those of you who don’t know what the fuck is going on, allow me to shed some light on this case. That dog in the wheelchair can turn into literally anyone here with just a little lick of their blood. More than a leech can do,” he says, pointing at the Vampire King. The vampire king looks around, wondering what he did to deserve being attacked that way. “He used this remarkable talent to turn himself into this asshole,” he points at the Rogue King. “He took over without a single one of his wolves knowing or, quite frankly, giving two fucks. Even the now former Rogue Queen couldn’t tell the difference.”
“Baldr,” my grandmother growls.
“Right,” he sighs. “There are more of them out there, and we want to know where, but in order for that to happen, instead of allowing the Lycan King and Queen to keep moving with this investigation, you people need to decide how we’re going to get that information out of him. Are we all caught up?”
“How did this happen?” one of Xavier’s elders asks.
“How did you not notice that this nineteen-year-old shit wasn’t your king?” Elder Baldr asks and then crosses his arms over his chest expectantly.
The Elder looks over at Xavier and sighs.
“King Xavier wasn’t exactly available for many things. Civil matters are handled by those in charge of the Rogue stations and reported back to us. This is my first time meeting the man in person,” he answers truthfully and is embarrassed.
10:48 Fri, May 8
Chapter 177
87
55 vouchers
“No offense, but King Xavier is kind of an unruly. When he started showing greater interest in our affairs and making helpful changes rather than taking over more and more properties, we figured he was preparing to stay in place to produce an heir. The changes weren’t exactly drastic. We thought we were meeting the man who gave us our place,” another elder adds.
“Being a shitty king then,” Elder Baldr scoffs.
Xavier rolls his eyes and sits back as if he couldn’t care less. Elder Baldr waves the Shadow forward and then turns to me. He gives me a nod, and I stand. Ragnar tries to reach for me, but I hop out of my podium before he can.
-Your Dad is standing right next to me.- I remind him. His silence makes me nervous. Especially because I feel how irritated he is. -Come on. He’s showing off. He’s proud of us.-
It soothes him a bit, but he still doesn’t answer him. The anger flares again when the guards come over and begin to remove his binds. It takes a split second for him to give the guards a slip. He hits the floor on all fours before he can reach Elder Baldr and me. I spin the water in his system until he cries out. I slow it down and allow him to catch his breath before slowing his pulse.
“Forgive us, your grace,” the guards bow to us. Elder Baldr gives them a nod, and they lift him up to deposit him back in the wheelchair.
“It was you,” he says weakly without looking up. “You did this! You ruined everything!”
“That’s crazy,” I laugh. “You’re not the first piece of shit to accuse me of that.”
10:49 Fri, May 8
